Visa Options for Doctors in the USA

There are several US visa options for doctors from overseas who want to live and work in the USA.

Keep in mind that foreign-born doctors are paid during their medical residency at a hospital or other employer in the United States and in some cases may do their residency with one US visa and then work as a licensed doctor (after completing their paid residency) using a different US visa.

There is, however, an option to complete the medical residency in the United States and afterward work in the USA as a licensed doctor using one US visa, such as the H-1B Work Visa.

The most common non-immigrant work visas for doctors in the US are the J-1 Visa, H-1B Visa, O-1 Visa and TN-Visa.

Foreign-born doctors may also have the opportunity to apply for a permanent resident immigrant visa and Green Card through employment-based (EB) US visa programs (such as the EB-1 Visa or EB-2 Visa) or family sponsorship by an American citizen or US permanent resident or the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.

Non-Immigrant Visas for Doctors in US Include:

• J-1 Visa for Doctors:

  • The majority of US medical residency programs offer the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for Graduate Medical Education.
  • The Educational Commission for Foreign-Trained Medical Graduates (ECFMG) sponsors IMGs for the J-1 Visa for clinical training (i.e., medical residency or fellowship) programs in the USA.
  • The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for international medical graduate (IMGs) in clinical training programs in the USA is generally valid for the “duration of status” (i.e., the time required to complete the clinical training program), although the length of stay could be updated in the future.
  • To apply for the J-1 Visa for Doctors in US Clinical Training Programs, the IMG must generally:
  • Receive ECFMG Certification (this includes completing USMLE Steps 1 and 2 successfully)
  • Have a contract or offer letter for a Graduate Medical Education clinical training program in the US
  • Possess a Statement of Need from the Ministry of Health of his or her last country of permanent residence
  • The foreign doctor will need to return to his or her home country for two years after completing the clinical training program in the USA under the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa Program, in order to share the knowledge that was acquired, before applying for an H-1B Work Visa, L-1 Work Visa or other US work visa, or for a US Permanent Resident Visa (such as the EB-1 Visa or EB-2 Visa), UNLESS a J-1 Visa waiver is received.

• H-1B Visa for Doctors:

  • The H-1B Work Visa is a non-immigrant visa for doctors in US clinical training programs and for foreign doctors and other individuals in specialty occupations who want to work in the USA on a temporary basis.
  • The H-1B Work Visa is initially issued for up to three years, can be renewed for up to an additional three years (six years total) and there is an option to apply for a Permanent Resident Green Card if the person qualifies for one of the US immigration programs, such as the employment-based (EB) Green Cards (e.g., EB-1 or EB-2), family sponsorship by an American citizen or US permanent resident (for example, via marriage), or through the Diversity Visa Lottery Program.
  • It is possible for an international medical graduate (IMG) to use their H-1B Work Visa for their paid residency or fellowship in the United States and then use the H-1B Work Visa to transition into medical practice (for example, by being sponsored for the H-1B Work Visa renewal by a university or non-profit organization in the USA).
  • Foreign doctors who graduate from approved medical schools outside of the United States, referred to as international medical graduates (IMGs), as well as international students with an F-1 Student Visa who graduate from medical schools inside the United States, can apply for the H-1B Work Visa if they qualify and a US employer (such as a hospital where they will work as a medical resident) files the petition on their behalf with USCIS and all of the other criteria are satisfied.
  • It is worth noting that the H-1B Work Visa can be more difficult to obtain, however, it is often preferred by foreign doctors who seek to live and work in the USA long-term.

• O-1 Visa for Doctors:

  • The O-1A Work Visa for people with extraordinary ability in the arts, athletics, business, education or sciences is a potential visa for doctors in US training programs, particularly if they have extraordinary ability in science or are following a research track.
  • International medical graduates (IMGs) who want to apply for the O-1A Work Visa will generally need to show that they have extraordinary ability in one of the fields of science, as demonstrated by ongoing international or national acclaim as a top person in their particular scientific field.
  • Although the O-1A Work Visa does not require completion of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), successful completion of all three steps of the USMLE is required for state licensure.
  • The O-1A Work Visa is issued initially for up to three years and can be renewed in increments of up to one year each if the individual qualifies.

• TN Visa for Doctors:

  • The non-immigrant TN Work Visa allows citizens of Canada or Mexico with eligible occupations (such as doctors) to live and work in the USA in a professional capacity for a limited amount of time.
  • The TN Work Visa is issued for up to three years and there is an option to apply for an extension of stay.
  • There are different requirements for Canadian citizens and Mexican citizens which must be satisfied.
  • Canadian citizens may apply for TN status with the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at a pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection station or at a designated port of entry by providing:
  • Proof of citizenship in Canada
  • A letter from the prospective employer in the United States that discusses the professional capacity of the work in the US that will be performed, purpose of employment, education, length of stay, etc.
  • Evaluation of credentials (if relevant)
  • Any relevant fees paid
  • Another option for Canadian citizens to apply for the TN Work Visa is for the prospective employer in the USA to file the Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and once it is approved, then the Canadian citizen could provide proof of citizenship in Canada and the Form I-129 Approval Notice from USCIS to the CBP officer at a pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection station or at a designated port of entry. It is recommended to also bring the Form I-129 and related documents when seeking entry to the United States in case they are requested.
  • Mexican citizens will need to apply for and receive a TN Work Visa at the US Embassy or Consulate in Mexico and once they have it, they can apply for admission to the USA with a CBP officer at a pre-clearance/pre-flight inspection station or at a designated port of entry.

• E-3 Visa for Doctors:

  • The E-3 Work Visa is for Specialty Occupation Workers from Australia.
  • Initial length of stay for the E-3 Work Visa is up to two years and extensions of stay can be issued in increments of up to two years each. 
  • The requirements to apply for the E-3 Work Visa include:
  • Providing proof of being an Australian national
  • Possessing a qualifying offer of employment in a specialty occupation from a US employer
  • The specialty occupation must require practical and theoretical application of highly specialized knowledge and at least a Bachelor’s Degree or its equivalent
  • The employer in the US will usually file the Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) with USCIS
  • A Labor Certification will also generally need to be received from the US Department of Labor
  • The IMG will need to have a license or permission to practice the specialty occupation before employment can begin 

Immigrant Visas for Doctors in US Include:

• EB-1 Visa:

  • The EB-1A is an employment-based immigrant visa and Permanent Resident Green Card allowing individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts, athletics, business, education or the sciences who have ongoing international or national acclaim to live and work in the USA for an unlimited amount of time.
  • The EB-1B is an employment-based immigrant visa and Permanent Resident Green Card allowing outstanding researchers or professors with international or national acclaim and at least three years of experience researching or teaching in their academic field to live and work in the USA for an unlimited amount of time.
  • The EB-1A Immigrant Visa and EB-1B Immigrant Visa each have specific criteria that must be satisfied.
  • The Form I-140 (Petition for Alien Worker) must be filed with USCIS.
  • After the I-140 Petition is approved, the foreign doctor will apply for the Immigrant Visa with the US State Department if living outside of the United States OR apply for adjustment of status to Permanent Resident Green Card holder with USCIS if already legally living in the USA.

• EB-2 Visa:

  • The EB-2A is an employment-based immigrant visa and Permanent Resident Green Card allowing individuals with an advanced degree, letters from past employers verifying at least 5 years of experience in their occupation, and who meet other eligibility requirements to live and work in the USA for an unlimited time period.
  • The EB-2B is an employment-based immigrant visa and Permanent Resident Green Card allowing persons with exceptional ability in the arts, business or the sciences to live and work in the USA for an unlimited time period.
  • The EB-2A Visa and EB-2B Visa each have specific eligibility criteria that must be satisfied.
  • The employer in the US will usually file the Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) with USCIS
  • Application for Permanent Employment Certification is normally filed with the US Department of Labor.
  • After the I-140 Petition is approved, the foreign doctor will generally apply for the Immigrant Visa with the US State Department if living outside of the United States or apply for adjustment of status to Permanent Resident Green Card holder with USCIS if already legally living in the USA.

Please note that this is an overview that should not be considered as US immigration or legal advice and the information is subject to change at any time.